#46 Hotel Blackhawk

Davenport, Iowa

Our evening at Blackhawk was the halfway point of our 22-night road trip. We spent a little more for this stay, but we were ready for some luxury.

Not So Luxurious

This historic, 11-story, brick & white terra cotta building was not looking so luxurious just a few years ago.  After many up and down years, (there were even plans to make it low-income housing for the elderly) the hotel suffered a fire in 2006.  The fire wasn't caused by a faulty wire, or even a smoldering cigarette.  The fire started on the 8th floor when a meth lab exploded.  Demolition work began in 2009 and after a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Blackhawk opened in 2010.

The Old

I love seeing parts of the hotel that haven't changed, since the opening in 1915. I wonder who might have looked out of this impressive window in the past. Jack Dempsey, Carl Sandburg or Herbert Hoover, maybe? All have  been guests.

The New

The new additions aren't bad either.  This modern entrance facing the river has  the hotel's name projected onto the building at night.  The fountain has a pretty cool flame, although my camera failed to capture it. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Obama and the girls stayed here in 2011, they probably entered though the revolving door of this entrance.

The Interior

Arriving on a Tuesday meant we were checking in with lah-dee-dah business folk who weren't a bit impressed with the grand lobby.  I took it all in like a happy tourist.  The grand 2-story atrium was once again open.  It had been closed in for years to make room for extra meeting space.

Clean and Fresh

Gold is not usually my thing, but I loved all the gold and white.  Everything looked fresh and clean.  There was a huge arrangement of  fresh flowers on the center table and bowls of fresh fruit at the lobby desk.  

Skylight

We've actually seen a lot of lovely stained glass in historic hotels, but this one seemed bolder and brighter than most.  I wasn't able to find out if this was the original stained glass or if it was lost when the atrium was closed up.  New or old, it's a nice addition.

More Royal Gold

The gold trimmed staircase and accents in the well known "Gold Room" looked worthy of someone very special.  I'm not sure if any Royalty ever stayed, but one of my favorite British actors came to stay in his later years.

---

Cary Grant was here with his wife in 1986.  He felt ill and was unable to appear at the nearby Adler Theatre. It's not clear whether he died in room 901, or in the nearby.  It's sad to think I was walking through the last place where Cary Grant walked before his death.  I  kept an eye out for his ghosts.

Our Room.. not on Cary's Floor

Our hall was not on the same hall as Cary Grant's room.  In fact his room doesn't even exist anymore.  During renovations they shuffled space and his room is no longer available.  But I'd say our room seems nice enough for a movie star.  Cushy and spacious, modern and comfy.  We don't usually get all that with our stays at historic hotels.

Room with a View

It was hard to get to the big windows behind the bed, but there was a good view of the Mississippi!  I love a river view!  What I did't expect, was a view of the bathroom!

Shutters and TV Mirror

Maybe if Don and I stayed in classy hotels more often, we wouldn't have been so tickled by the shuttered bathroom window.  That kind of goes along with the bathroom trend I've been complaining about, with glass doors in hotel bathrooms.  

So the shutters were interesting.  (No glass of course) But the bathroom TV   cracked me up.  I've seen TVs in bathrooms before, but this is the first TV built into a mirror that I've seen.  I was sort of like a dog noticing a mirror for the first time. I wanted to keep touching those people on CNN to see what would happen.

Bowling!

We didn't need to  leave the building once we checked in. There was too much to do.   

Blackhawk Bowl and Martini Lounge!

How could we not visit the bar and lanes in the basement.  The  club was hopping when we first arrived.  We had to wait a while to  make use of our free bowling voucher!!

Martinis and Dinner

We actually saved the martinis for the lobby bar which was having a half price  special. Then it was dinner in the Bix Bistro, just off the lobby.  My very "whippy" pumpkin bisque was almost as yummy as the chocolate torte that we took up to the room. The dessert was just one more freebie perk for hotel guests!

Making Use in the Morning

Don and I were determined to get our money's worth out of our hotel.  By sunrise, I was working out in the fitness center and Don was swimming laps in 3rd floor pool. There was a great outdoor deck with lounge chairs and a river view.  Wish we'd had time for a coffee out there! 

What's Notable?
 
My notables are usually quirky things or funny things.  But mostly I will remember  this hotel for being the perfect balance of historic charm and modern luxury.  

Oh, and maybe that bowling alley. That was pretty memorable.  Our first hotel with a bowling alley!